Our bodies change as they age, and our eyes are no exception. Sometimes, young people develop myopia and need prescription eyeglasses to help them with school. On the other end of the spectrum, many adults end up needing reading glasses as they get older.
So, how do you know if you need prescription eyewear? While only an eye doctor can diagnose eye health issues, there are signs you can look out for. If you have trouble focusing on objects, experience headaches after office work, or notice other changes in your vision, you may need new glasses. Consider visiting an optometrist for an eye exam.
Signs You May Need Glasses
If you experience blurry vision, headaches, or other symptoms or signs that your vision has changed, don’t hesitate to contact your optometrist. Some vision problems can be easily fixed with prescription eyewear. Other vision problems can be serious; therefore, a prompt diagnosis and proactive treatment plan can go a long way.
Blurry Vision
Not seeing clearly is a sign that there’s something abnormal going on with your vision. Blurry vision can be a symptom of a refractive error like myopia (“nearsightedness”), hyperopia (“farsightedness”), or astigmatism.
A refractive error means the light going into your eye is not focusing correctly on your retina, leading to a blurry image.
Urge to Squint
Squinting is another classic sign of a potential vision problem. The act of squinting is limiting the amount of unfocused-scattered light which leads to a slightly clearer image on the retina. It’s not a sustainable or comfortable solution to poor vision, however, so consider prescription glasses if you find yourself squinting a lot.
Headaches
A headache may be a sign that your eyes are straining. Headaches can happen when your eyes work too hard during vision-heavy activities like reading and looking at screens.
It’s important to get a proper diagnosis of your type of headache as treatments vary depending on the underlying cause. If your headaches are linked to vision tasks, prescription eyewear may provide relief.
Trouble Seeing at Night
If you have issues seeing at night, you may have “night myopia.” Other causes for night blindness include cataracts, LASIK surgery, glaucoma, vitamin deficiency, or retinal diseases. Difficulty seeing at night can be dangerous, especially if you drive, so ask an optometrist whether glasses can help.
Signs a Child Needs Glasses
Very young children may not be as adept at describing vision problems. If you have a little one, watch out for the following signs:
- Trouble at school: If a child finds it hard to see the chalkboard or associates near work (eg. homework, reading, drawing) with discomfort, their performance at school may suffer.
- Holding things close: Whether it’s a book, screen, or toy, if your child has a habit of holding things close to their face, they may have trouble seeing objects.
- Squinting, blinking, eye rubbing, or closing one eye: These are signs of eye strain and discomfort.
- Trouble playing sports: Vision problems are linked to challenges with hand-eye coordination.
If your child shows signs of a vision issue, take them to the optometrist.
How Glasses Can Help
Prescription eyewear can help you see better and more comfortably. Glasses correct refractive errors by changing the way light bends as it enters your eyes. This allows you to see a clearer, sharper image.
Glasses can help reduce eye strain for tasks like reading, watching a presentation, or driving. Some eyeglass lenses have additional benefits like anti-glare or blue light filtering, which can help with digital eye strain.
Another benefit of glasses is their potential as a fashion accessory! You can choose from a virtually limitless selection of frame colours, styles, shapes, and materials to find eyewear that matches your personality. That’s the beauty of glasses: they’re functional and stylish.
But what if you don’t like wearing glasses? Contact lenses are an option, and some people may be eligible for laser eye surgery.
What 20/20 Vision Means
Many people believe that because they have “20/20 vision,” they have perfect eyesight and therefore don’t need to visit the eye doctor. But this is a misunderstanding.
Having 20/20 vision means you can see something at 20 feet as well as someone with healthy vision. If you have 20/60 vision, you can see an object at 20 feet as well as someone with healthy vision sees the same object at 60 feet.
While 20/20 vision means you have excellent visual acuity, it doesn’t take into account other aspects of vision such as peripheral vision, depth perception, and colour differentiation. Having 20/20 vision also doesn’t make you immune from eye health problems like glaucoma.
That’s why it’s important to visit the eye doctor regularly to catch and treat these problems early. How often you should get your eyes checked depends on your age and health status, but in general, the Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends adults ages 20 to 64 get an eye exam once every two years.
Visit an Optometrist in Vancouver
We use our eyes every day for work, hobbies, and even relaxing with our families in front of the television. You deserve to have clear and comfortable vision, so if you suspect an issue with your eyes, visit an optometrist and get the care you need.
At Vancouver Block Optometry, our community-oriented team uses modern technology to help you identify your prescription. We also recognize that style is a big part of eyewear shopping, and we’re proud to offer a variety of brands.
Conveniently located in downtown Vancouver, we look forward to supporting you with your vision and eye health. Contact us to book an appointment today.